Paige Bueckers 44-Point Explosion Stuns Sparks in Heartbreaking Wings Defeat
On a buzzing night at Crypto.com Arena, Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers delivered a performance that will be etched in WNBA history. The former UConn star dropped a staggering 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks, tying the league’s rookie single-game scoring record set by Cynthia Cooper in 1997. Despite her heroics, the Wings fell 81-80 on a heart-wrenching buzzer-beater by Kelsey Plum, ending Dallas’ playoff hopes.
Bueckers was a force from the opening tip, slicing through the Sparks’ defense with a blend of silky midrange jumpers, perfect three-point shooting, and flawless free throws. She finished 17-for-21 from the field, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and 6-for-6 at the line, becoming the first WNBA player to score 40-plus points while shooting at least 80% from the floor. Her 44 points marked the highest single-game total in the league this season and accounted for over half of Dallas’ output.
The game was a rollercoaster. Dallas surged early, with Bueckers and Luisa Geiselsoder sparking a 9-0 run. The Sparks battled back, leaning on Rickea Jackson’s 25 points and Plum’s clutch play. In the fourth, Bueckers single-handedly kept the Wings alive, scoring all 14 of their points, including a technical free throw that gave Dallas a one-point lead with a minute left. But Plum’s floater at the buzzer sealed a dramatic Sparks victory.
“I’ve always prided myself on team success,” Bueckers said postgame, brushing off personal accolades. “This team means so much to me. We fight, we show up for each other.” Her humility shone through, even as Sparks coach Lynne Roberts called her “unbelievable” and a “star playing at another level.”
The loss dropped the Wings to 9-27, but Bueckers’ night solidified her as the frontrunner for 2025 Rookie of the Year. With 19.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game, she’s proving why she was the No. 1 overall pick. Even in defeat, Bueckers showed the basketball world she’s a generational talent ready to shape the WNBA’s future.
Leave a comment